Bike week: what a wonderful time to wrap up this project and get close to summer. I can’t believe that I am in my last week of classes at KSU. Graduation will be bitter-sweet. However, let’s focus on the now. Manhattan’s Bike week is going on. There are several activities every day, so check them out! Here’s a few to get you started:
Tomorrow before class stop by Varsity Donuts for some breakfast, show your helmet and to get free drink with your donut. (P.S. it’s bike to work day)
Wednesday there are booths at Boscoe Plaza. Such as free bike maintenance and talking to bike friendly businesses.
For more events the rest of the week check out Bike Manhattan (not all of them even require a bike!)
All other things aside, the rise in gas prices have drivers looking for alternative modes of transportation. And though I feel Manhattan is more bike friendly than many communities in the midwest, it is not perfect. Fault can be put in many places: the city for not creating the ultimate infrastructure, the drivers for not watching for cyclists, and the uninformed cyclist riding the streets. It seems that I have noticed more bikes around Manhattan this year than in my 5 years here. And that is awesome, but many of them are inexperienced on basic rules of cycling, and I cringe when I see people make mistakes that could create a danger. Basically here is a breakdown for some basic safety:
– a bike should yield to pedestrians, the sidewalk is their territory, especially on campus.
– follow the same rules of the road as a car, this includes stopping at a stop sign, and using hand signals so the drivers know what to expect
Though I am wrapping up my time as a blogger, I am certain that my cycling days will continue. This project has helped me break my reliance on my car, honestly. I feel silly now driving places that are so close to home, and usually for reasons such as meeting a group for classwork close to sunset. As much as I love cycling… the dark is not a fun time to ride without a good light (it probably doesn’t help that my neighborhood has no streetlights). So for now, I am restricted to the daylight. But my work has not been in vain, I did get two of my friends at different times to go places with me via a bike. From the planning stages it was a worry of mine that going somewhere with multiple people would be difficult on a bike (tandem bikes excluded, since I don’t have one). I felt that it was a small victory to drag other people away from their cars. And here comes the best part….. they liked it. My college age friends were happy (and nearly willing) to get some physical exercise outside on a nice afternoon. I will not hold my breath for them to accompany me when the weather is not exactly ideal. But I suppose I can be satisfied for the time being. And for one last cartoon……
Gender, Environment & Justice 
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May 1, 2012 at 9:15 am
ajhr89
Wow! This is really cool. I didn’t know that K-State and Manhattan got so involved in this. I do remember last weekend there was a bike race around campus, but I didn’t realize what it was for. I’m really glad that this project has helped you break your reliance on your car. Without a car, I have come to hate walking everyday from campus and really like it when I can find rides. However, I think this is one thing that we forget about living in Manhattan is that we are very lucky that everything is in walking distance. So even when I complain about walking it’s not going to kill me.
May 2, 2012 at 12:12 am
cmyskiw
I am glad your friends were responsive to you wanting them to bike with you! Not only does it help ya’ll get exercise, but saves money you’d otherwise spend on crazy expensive gas prices..
It is great that Manhattan is having a Bike Week. I am intrigued to work my way into the bike culture here in Manhattan. slowly but surlely I am meeting more people that are members of this ‘subculture’ and I think it’s great. By being around people that want to bike because it’s fun, or because it is the eco friendly to do, or because they want to budget- whatever reason…it’s cool being around people with a set of beliefs you can vibe with.
This summer when I live in my own home, I am bringing my bike and getting a new bike lock. So there are no excuses. I will definitely challenge myself to ride my bike to everyday places. Great post !!!
May 3, 2012 at 2:29 pm
ammealy
Such a great way to wrap up your project! I’m glad you enjoyed biking around so much. I guess it’s about time for me to invest in a bike! Great job grabbing your friends and biking with them. Your influence on other people greatly helps the environment. Great job!
May 3, 2012 at 8:31 pm
mcarvanitakis
Thanks for the bike tips!! I can’t wait to do some awesome biking over the summer. This post is motivating! I should have hit up some of the cool bike events during this week. I am so glad you have enjoyed your project with all your biking adventures. It is great that you got some of your friends to bike with you. I wish you the best of luck as you move on from K-State and I am sure you will be moving often via bike. Have fun biking in the future!!
May 3, 2012 at 11:58 pm
danilucas2012
This is awesome that you are so involved with the biking idea in our community. I really wish I had a bike to be able to get around more efficiently, and without having to use my car! And thanks for the info on safety, I feel like many people think because they aren’t in a car, they can bend the rules, or that they don’t apply to them…not true! I’ve been almost hit by bikers many times in my 4 years here, ha. Good luck to you and I hope wherever you end up, here or in another state, that you continue to keep this a priority in your life =]
May 4, 2012 at 2:20 am
snarkyzenchild
– follow the same rules of the road as a car, this includes stopping at a stop sign, and using hand signals so the drivers know what to expect
Thank you for posting this. As a person that primarily drives, the one thing that will get my hackles up is cyclists who don’t do that. I have had too many experiances where I’m about to drive through an intersection that is green and suddenly having to hit the breaks because a cyclist has just wizzed infront and past my car. It had gotten to the point that at one time I began a mantara of “well I hadn’t planned on commiting vehicular manslaughter today but if you insist…”. I understand they have the right to the road but that does mean that they have to follow the same rules cause a cars generally take more time to stop than a bike.
Nice cartoon by the way.
May 4, 2012 at 3:06 am
Amazon SWO
That is so cool that you got your friends involved too. Thank you also for include tips for bike safety as I have seen several bad bike accidents on campus, and alot of trips to the ER for walkers and riders as impact and concrete have had issues. My little brother accidently hit a cyclist, who tried to zip by him, and felt just awful, luckily the cyclist took full responsiblity for the accident, but it could have gone a whole different way.
May 4, 2012 at 5:11 pm
marykgreen
I was so glad to hear about all the bike week stuff going on this week! Its hard sometimes not to feel a little persecuted as a biker, but if more people become aware of what it expected, polite, etc biking in Manhattan will continue to become a more fun, safe, and inclusive experience. Have you noticed the new bike lanes around town? I noticed several new ones I think on Moro by Aggieville that were not there this time last year.
I think the key to making Manhattan pedestrians and drivers more comfortable with bikers is simply to make sure the EVERYONE understands the rules of biking so drivers are less confused and bikers know how to be safe, follow the laws and be polite.